Tao Xu is an associate with DLA Piper’s world-leading Franchise and Distribution practice group, based in the Northern Virginia and Washington, DC offices.

Mr. Xu devotes his practice to franchising and distribution matters, especially international franchising, licensing and distribution transactions. He counsels a broad range of clients in their international expansions, including master franchising, multi-unit licensing, area development, single-unit licensing and direct investment (both joint venture and wholly foreign owned). He provides clients with legal background briefing, general corporate advice, contract drafting, negotiation and other services. Mr. Xu has helped clients with transactions in countries and regions that include Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, the UAE, Ukraine and the UK.

Mr. Xu has been deeply involved in franchising activities in China. He is a member of DLA Piper’s US and China joint team, which represents the International Franchise Association in lobbying the Chinese government to adopt a new franchise regulatory regime. He has also represented many US and European clients in entering into the Chinese market, covering such industries as quick-service restaurants, premium dining, lodging, service, retail, real estate service and education.
Mr. Xu has an active hospitality and leisure practice, advising hotel clients in connection with single and multi-unit development transactions in the United States and the Asian-Pacific region (particularly in China and India).

He also has a broad-based domestic franchising practice, counseling clients of all sizes in drafting agreements, preparing disclosure documents, obtaining and maintaining state registrations and counseling on compliance matters. He has represented both buyers and sellers as franchise counsel in mergers and acquisitions of franchise companies.

Prior to attending law school, Mr. Xu worked at Bank of China’s headquarters in Beijing, China, specializing in international trade financing. He is a native speaker of Mandarin.